Bed-guard.



Nn. 706,748. Patented Aug. I2, |902.

J. C. FISH.

BED GUARD.

(Application led *0012. 23, 1900.)

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Patented Aug. l2, |902. J. C. FISH.

B E D G U A R D (Application led Oct. 23, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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@www I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. FISH, OF SHELBY, OHIO.

BED-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersV Patent No. 706,748, dated August 12, 1902. Application led October 23,1900. Serial No. 34,073. (No model.)

.To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. FISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelby, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bed-Guards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to providean efficient and easily-removable means for insuring a proper division of the surface of the mattress between two occupants of a bed. This is especially advantageous when one or both of the occupants is an infant, as infants particularly tend to roll in their sleep, encroaching upon the territory of the other occupant. My guard likewise restrains one occupant from appropriating more than his share of the bedclothes. When the bed is against the wall, my guard makes the fourth side of a virtual pen, confining the infant, and this is a further object of the invention. Where there is substantially no footboard to the bed, as in some styles of beds, I extend my guard laterally at the foot to take its place.

It has been my object to provide the above device in a form which shall be very simple` and cheap in construction, which shall be easily removable and easily adjustable to the diiferent heights of mattresses.

The invention consists generally in the Y means I employ to accomplish the above-mentioned ends. More specifically, it comprises a net stretched between adjustable supports. The invention may be further summarized as consistingof the construction and combinations of the parts, as more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the' claims.

In the drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure lis a perspective view showing my invention as applied to a wooden bedstead, the bedstead proper being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bracket I use in connection with a wooden bedstead, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 4 illustrates a form of sleeve I may use in fastening the net to the standard. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through one of the upright supports, as shown in Fig. 1, and illustrates another method of attaching the net to the supports. Fig.`6 is a horizontal section through the upright and sleeve illustrated in Fig/l. Fig. 7 isa perspective View of the corner of an iron bedstead of common form, illustrating my invention as applied thereto. Fig. 8 is a plan of one of the brackets shown inFig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a vertical 4section'of the same.

Referring to the parts by letters and conining myself for the present to Figs. l to o', B B represent brackets which are fastened, respectively, to the head and foot boards of the bedstead A. They may be identical in construction, and they consist of a plate adapted to be fastened to the bedstead by screws or similar means and carrying projecting arms b, which have vertical slots in which are guided the uprights C. These uprights may be simply-bars of iron of rectangular section provided near their lower ends with a longitudinal row of holes c', with which a split center pin P cooperates to support the upright at any height desired. The upright may be made with an offset, as shown at the foot of the bed and in Fig. 1, so as to facilitate placing it. The net N may be provided with oblong rings 'n at its end, which rings take over the uprights and into the notches c', provided in the outeredge thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 5. I maysubstitute for these rings a hook-plate l-I, which is bent at its outer edge to conform to the shape of the uprights, as at 7i, and at its inner edge is turned over to form an elongated opening h.

When I use this sleeve, I shall have a loop in the end of the net which will pass through this opening 72,', and the notches c2 in the upright will' be dispensed with,- or the guard may be connected to the supports by lacing.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 9, the brackets D are here adapted to clamp to the bed-frame. The horizontal frame which directly supports the spring or mattress in iron bedsteads is usually made of light angle-iron, as shown. In such case I clamp these brackets to the vertical flange of the frame. The brackets have two jaws dwhich take over the iiange ct of the bed-frame and are provided with clamping set-screws d2. These jaws are connected by a plate d3. At its lower end this plate is provided with a projection which has a vertical slot to form a guide d4,

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and above this guide d4 are lugs d5, which project from the plate d3 and whose inner faces aline with the guide d4. Sometimes iron bedsteads are provided at the foot with a bar a', (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7,) andto forestall any difficulty which might arise in inserting the upright in the bracket, due to the offsets contacting said bar, l have used the disconnected lugs d5 instead of a closed guide similar to d4. Hence to set up the upright it can be slipped sidewise between the lugs d5 and then inserted into the guide d4. The uprights may be generally similar to those described in connection with Figs. l to 6.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a net extended along one-half of the foot of the bedstead, being screwed to thefoot-standard E and the side standard E. By doing this it is possible to completely close a portion of the bed where the bedstead is placed in the corner of the room. This is advantageous, as a young infant in that manner could be completely guarded from an accidental fall from the bed. When I do this, I may for strength make the upright E of T-iron, the flanges being cut away from the web at the lower end to permit its connection to the bracket.

The nets may be secured as desired, the method shown being by means of a row of holes in the flange and web of the upright E. The upright at the head of the bed may be identical with the upright E', and all of them are provided with holes e2, and each has a split pin,which supports it upon the lugs d5.

My invention is adapted to various forms of bed without marring the visible parts thereof. The partition is vertically adjustable to allow for different thicknesses of mattress, and being made of a net of suitable mesh and strength it cannot hurt the occupants and always allows free circulation of all'.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In combination with a bedstead, brackets adapted to be secured thereto, said brackets each having a vertical opening through its lower end and a vertical recess thereabove alining with said opening, said opening and recess forming a guide, uprights carried by said guides, means for adjusting the heights of said uprights, and a flexible partition stretched between said uprights, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bedstead, of brackets, means for securing said brackets to the frame of said bedstead, avertical guide formed in the foot of each of said brackets, projections on said brackets thereabove to form another guide in the form of an openended slot, offset uprights carried in said guides, and a vertical exible partition stretched between said uprights, substantially as described.

3. A bedstead having a head or foot with a substantially horizontal cross bar or member, combined with a bracket secured to the head or foot lower than the cross-bar but outside of the vertical plane through it, and an upright having an offset and continuing substantially parallel with said head or foot above and below said oset, said upright being carried by said bracket beneath the offset, an upright at the other end of the bed, and a flexible partition stretched betweenl said uprights, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signaturevin the presence of two Witnesses. JOI-IN C. FISI-I. Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, I-I. W. HILDEMENT. 

